Advanced Swarm Trapping (lessons learned) 

You will have some, especially if there is pollen or any resources in the comb. Old honeycomb or broodcomb old enough to cull out would be ideal. Also if it’s had BT or paramoth exposure it’s less of an issue.

I know its a 2 yo comment but drawn comb isnt the lure for moths its the pollen and bread. I have traps out all season along with baited 8 frame hives, all drawn out but no pollen

They’ll leave comb alone if it’s never had brood in it. But the old cocoons of brood are a protein source and attract moths.

Thanks!

Very interesting, thanks

Where is this wax moth smell finding coming from? Any papers you read in German beekeeping journal or is it your own finding?

That's interesting and sounds like it could have as much validity as anything! Somethings that people learn to use thru generational beekeeping is more important than any scientific paper!

That’s pretty cool!

I agree Randall, too much nasonov repels them.

Thanks! The river’s a little high right now. Soon as it gets right I need to put my kayak in there and chase some smallmouth.

I appreciate it Greg. You're right, you could do starter strips and I bet it'll work fine. I'm not doing it because I'm not going to add another piece of gear just to trap swarms. I've got enough bees now that I can split and get to the number I want, so trapped swarms are a bonus not a necessity. That's why I wanted to make them less work and time critical.

I really do appreciate the kind words. Thanks

I’ve heard that several times. Definitely would be common and cheap, and a good reuse. Thanks

Thanks Tyler!

I really appreciate that!

Thanks Walter!

Good luck, I love Montana.

Thanks!

Thanks Mike!

Thanks!

Thanks Mark!

Thanks for stopping by Randy

Thanks!

Thanks Scott, very kind of you.

Thanks!

Thank you!

It’s almost time! Super fun time of year

We’re behind in brood production, queens just started laying a bit. It’ll be a while before we see swarms here I bet.

Good luck Susan!

Good luck John 👍

It’s a fun time for sure!

If water gets in, it has to be able to get out…. Thanks

Thanks Gary.

Thanks Brice, the fun / scramble is nearly here!

That’s a really interesting idea! I think I’d worry about getting too much in there…but I’m not a very good cook.

Thanks for saying that, I might give that a try. I was worried about getting beeswax that had been too purified to add a good benefit for attracting bees. I may take it down to two drops though, or maybe even one at first, I'm good at blending things and attention to detail.

Thanks, luck to you!

The best bait for a swarm of bees is wax, melted wax applied to the walls. Can be outside, can be updated periodically. For 30 years, this hobby has been tested. I conducted experiments when I met a swarm of bees on a tree in the forest. Search the Internet for a report on the research of German scientists, I lost the link, they conducted a large-scale experiment on catching swarms of bees, found out a lot of interesting things. Remember the main thing, the trap is not the main thing, finding a good place is the main thing, there are many factors in the search. Good luck.

Look up russian scion

I’ve waxed the boxes as well, it helps. Thanks

@@jarnold8803 Sorry, I'm a Belarusian, we have a somewhat strained relationship with the Russians. But it doesn't matter. catching swarms of bees is an international hobby, though mostly European.

Thanks!

I use cap and ladder feeders. Have never had bees build comb in them.

Yep, I always look for pollen.

A few of my girls were around while I was filming. ;)

Thanks, I’ve got options so hopefully I have healthy bees, and as many colonies as I want.

I won’t put a “full trap” anywhere I think they could get stolen. Good point.

It is, swarms are very motivated comb builders. Thanks

@@DuckRiverHoney I collected a swarm last year and it was my best comb producer. Feed, feed, feed sugar syrup as soon as you re-home the bees. People don't realize as soon as they get the bees home from store or swarm that swarm season is already in full effect!

Bee smell, that’ll work.

Yep, I’ve got it, recommended it in the first video of the series. It’s wonderful.

@@DuckRiverHoney I leave 7 frames empty with no foundation. I just put a strip of starter to try and guide them. I put two frames of foundation against the sides, and one brood comb. I put deeps on tree stands. I’m sure you will catch a bunch anyway. I think the used comb is probably the most beneficial factor

Hi Dan, it’s been a slower swarm season overall this year, but I have trapped a few and it works fine. I do believe the empty space is attractive, but I don’t have time to check as often this year.

Very interesting, thanks

Rickey I think rubbing or painting beeswax inside helps. Propolis does. Old drawn comb REALLY helps. Leaving wood open under a shed for a few months before use would help. Too much nasonov inside the box is not desirable in my experience.

Open brood will definitely hold them. In my experience syrup will too. The issue I had was the bees didn’t choose to go into that box, I put them in it, so the queen never intended to lay.

@@DuckRiverHoney I think it may be more of an issue of the climate in your area also. What Rupert is describing is something I have seen others do in Mississippi and Louisiana do what he described and have it work. Things are going to be different in our further north belt of the country where the bees are not able to fly thru most of the winter like they are down there. My winters are a little harsher in my area of SW Missouri but, we are similar enough that I can understand yours. Just found your channel today and I have been binge watching (term I only recently learned) your swarm catching videos and have of course subscribed. I really like the way you come at things! I had your drive when I was younger and now that I'm in my first year of early retirement I was I had it back. You're helping me to get it back, thanks a lot for your videos!

Thanks Tommy!

I’ve got 23 hives and would like to go into winter with 40 or 50. I’ve got 10 Caucasian queens ordered, so the rest of my increase can be splits or trapped swarms, either way.

If the comb is dry and empty they won’t bother it too much. It can happen though.

I tried that last year as well. It definitely attracts bees.

Thanks Ryan

Thanks

I agree with treating them with oxalic acid vapor when caught. This works best when checking traps atleast weekly, otherwise there might be too much capped brood by the time they are treated.

If they’re empty the moths don’t get into them as bad. Empty honey comb really won’t attract moths but brood comb will as they go after the spent cocoons.

Yep, just foundation in the rest of the box. I try to not waste too much comb in traps, it’s valuable in other uses.

I do not know if there is anything like that. There has not been any bees here, so don't think there is much of that kind of thing there. They can fly in but I hope it will not take time for some bees to move in. This time of the year the bees are going nuts with all the orange trees around. With all the citrus trees around there is loads of food for them. And almost every year there has been bees move into someone's house and you know that isn't good. I just want to have a better place for them to go. I do not know if I will be able to get any used equipment for the smell. I just can do what I can to keep them from going into someone's house.

The weathered wood would probably catch better, but the deep with deep frames would be less work if you did catch.

That works, I’ve tried it. But with drawn comb inside I don’t think I need any swarm commander inside. The LGO or swarm commander I think is more of a call lure to help them find the box.

What's the cavity size of mail box where you live?

19x6@1/2×8@1/2

Im going to be going thru all mail boxs and see how the wax moths enjoyed them. Also going to open some of the entrances. Some had slots but the ones that didn't I just put a 3/4 hole in bottom. I'm not sure if any held water since I had all of them sloped down. And there were holes in bottom of boxs. They were given to me from a old trailer park so free is good. They are weathered for sure. Metal and plastic.

That’s only roughly 17 liters, probably out of the range they’d consider.

@@BucksBeesS.C. they won't like metal and plastic. You can melt down some wax and add saw dust to it then coat your plastic and metal walls with it. They'll be more likely to use the box that way Anyone who saw bees on plastic. Most low surface energy plastic it's hard for bees to even walk on it. Let alone use it for their daily commute

I believe I caught 18 swarms that year. If you can’t use drawn comb then used boxes would help a lot if you’re allowed to do that.

@@DuckRiverHoney Thank you

No worries

@@wombattallong1840 Hi mate ! where about you are catching ? In Australia or not ??? I already missed 2 swarms in front of the local pub ... last week. I can't believe it already started ! I expected( her in Adelaide) Later ... mid Septembre but ... not now.

Hi I am in the Southern highlands of NSW close to Goulburn. here the night are still cold 4-5C Days are warmer . I am planning to put my traps out mid September. Let us keep in Touch :) @@marinvidovic763

That’s interesting, thanks

Most of Asia has Apis Cerena, different kind of bee. I wonder if the swarm bait is same for both.

@@AS-ug2vq Lemongrass oil seems to work well here in Australia, but use it sparingly just a drop or two on top of a couple of frames and a smear at the entrance, I also rub the tops of lure frames with some slum gum from previous wax extraction, and the interior of the box, apparently it gives the box the lived in attraction. I have caught 7 good swarms in one trap in a good year, so it is well worth the effort.

My bottle says Taiwan.... Great bunch of lads.

Thanks Nancy, a single deep is very close to 40 liters. I talked about water in Part 3 which was Where To Put Swarm Traps. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9IF4Tj-_cJ8.html

Bees don't care about shape. But long (vertically) and narrow horizontally are preferred for better air flow control in hive.

A deep box is a great size

Interesting observation.... I read somwhere that rotten stuff at the bottom of the hollow tree contains some fungi that are beneficial to the bees ... Maybe that's why they like rotten lumber ... (??? )

They will go after cocoons, but not as bad.

Cheap & easy were the goals.

No, never

@@DuckRiverHoney ... but what do you put in that feeder then ?

Nothing.

Pretty well George. It was a reduced swarming season here, but I caught or trapped around 12.

@@DuckRiverHoney Nice, I’m a new beekeeper and work for a pest control company. We’ve always called beekeepers for removals but will now do some ourselves when a local beekeeper is not available. Your videos have been very helpful. Thanks for what you do.

It will. I use that occasionally. Thanks

They do that because they rejected the box for some reason. They were probably looking for somewhere else. Swarms are engorged with food, and gorged bees make comb.

That will work. I don’t use deeps as swarm traps because I don’t use deep equipment. If you’ve got deeps it makes sense.

@@DuckRiverHoney what do you think...a deep super with deep frames or a deep super with medium frames and an open area?

If you’ve got drawn comb to use then just use deeps. The void is attractive so if you’ve only got foundations then the mediums may work a little better.

It’s a little early here, I expect our first swarms in late March or early April.

... I caught one in my bee yard yesterday...50 degrees and sunny seems to get them moving... mother nature dosnt wait for a calander date. Go get em...!

Where are you at?

@@DuckRiverHoney Jacksonville Florida

I know around March last year I got 5 swarm

I never had, yet. They’re all on private land and tucked away.

Swarm traps that are high enough that you can only reach them with a ladder are not likely to be stolen. Likewise, swarm traps close to someone's home are not likely to be stolen.